PRO-LIFE and pro-choice demonstrators (Shutterstock).

A petition drive to legalize abortion in Missouri will move forward after the state Supreme Court on Thursday ordered the state attorney general  to cease his efforts to stop or slow the process.

The Associated Press is reporting that Andrew Bailey, the state’s Republican top lawyer, must accept the estimate provided by the state auditor – also a Republican – about the potential cost to the state if the petition drive was successful.

Bailey’s position was that the measure would cost more by factor of  a million, and therefore he could not allow the gathering of signatures to put the measure on the ballot.

Court ethics code advances

U.S. SUPREME COURT

On a close, partisan vote, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday approved the creation of an ethics code for the Supreme Court. All 11 Democrats voted in favor; all 10 Republicans were opposed.

According to United Press International, court ethics became an issue after published reports indicated Associate Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito had accepted gifts and trips from political donors.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said the code idea was an “intimidation campaign by the left.”

Sale of NFL Commanders is approved

The National Football League on Thursday released a report backing allegations that Daniel Snyder, owner of the Washington Commmanders had committed sexual harassment and fibbed about revenue figures reported to the NFL.

According to USA Today, the NFL owners also voted unanimously to approve of Snyder’s sale of the team to Josh Harris for $6.05 billion, with 1 percent of that going to settle “all outstanding matters.”

Weather: A good time for cloud fans

If you’re fond of the combination of clouds and sun in your sky, you’re living in the right part of the world in our West Orange County.  The forecast for Friday is for mostly sunny conditions with a daytime high of 86 and an overnight low of 64. But partly cloudy skies will likely be in place from Saturday all the way through this coming Tuesday. Daytime highs will range from 82 to 88 with overnight lows of 65 to 68.